Perioperative Active Warming for Postoperative Pain and Shivering

The present study evaluated the effects of perioperative active warming on the core body temperature, postoperative pain, shivering, and agitation in children aged 2-6 years undergoing elective surgery (orthopedic soft tissue surgeries, ear nose throat surgical procedures, and general surgical interventions) under general anesthesia. It randomized the participants to receive either active warming (using the forced-air warming gowns, Bair Hugger, in the pre-and postoperative period, and a carbon fiber blanket in the intraoperative period; Group A) or conventional warming using green blankets pre-and post-operatively and a carbon fiber blanket intraoperatively (Group B).

The study observed:

• Inclusion of 35 participants in each group. 
• No significant difference between the groups in t-core values at 0 and 15 minutes preoperatively. 
• Higher value at 30 minutes preoperatively and all subsequent t-core values in Group A. 
• Significantly lower postoperative pain and shivering scores at 0 minutes, 30 minutes, and 6 hours in Group A compared to Group B. 
• No significant difference in agitation scores in the immediate postoperative period, although, Group A had reduced agitation at 30 minutes. 

This study shows that active warming in the pre-and postoperative periods significantly maintains higher core temperatures and reduces postoperative pain and shivering in children undergoing surgery in the pre-and postoperative periods.

Çiftci C, Kara I, Büyükcavlak M, et al. Effect of Perioperative Active Warming on Postoperative Pain and Shivering in Preschool Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Indian Pediatrics.2024 [E-PUB AHEAD OF PRINT]